Kansas Attorney General Sues Pfizer: Explosive Allegations of COVID-19 Vaccine Misrepresentation

Kris Kobach Accuses Pharmaceutical Giant of Deceptive Marketing Practices and Concealing Critical Safety Information

TOPEKA — Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has filed a civil lawsuit against pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, accusing the company of misleading the public about the safety and effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine. The lawsuit, filed on Monday, claims Pfizer violated the state’s Consumer Protection Act.

Kobach is seeking civil monetary penalties, damages, and injunctive relief, alleging that Pfizer made deceptive statements in marketing its vaccine. The complaint asserts that Pfizer willfully concealed and omitted crucial information about the vaccine, particularly concerning its safety for pregnant women, its impact on heart conditions, its effectiveness against variants, and its ability to prevent transmission.

"Pfizer marketed its vaccine as safe for pregnant women," Kobach stated. "However, in February 2021, they had reports of 458 pregnant women who received the vaccine, with more than half reporting adverse events, and over 10% experiencing miscarriages."

A study published in the journal Medicine in February 2022 found a higher percentage of adverse events among pregnant women compared to the general population. Conversely, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine in April 2021 showed no significant safety concerns for pregnant individuals receiving the mRNA vaccine.

Kobach also claims Pfizer misrepresented the vaccine's safety regarding heart conditions like myocarditis and pericarditis. He referenced Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla's January 2023 statement denying any significant issues with myocarditis, despite findings from the U.S. government and military indicating otherwise. According to the CDC, myocarditis and pericarditis cases related to the vaccine are rare, with most patients recovering fully by hospital discharge.

Furthermore, Kobach alleges that Pfizer falsely marketed the vaccine as effective against COVID-19 variants and as a means to prevent transmission. "Pfizer urged Americans to get vaccinated to protect their loved ones, suggesting the vaccine stopped transmission," Kobach said. "However, Pfizer later admitted they never studied the vaccine's effect on transmission."

In response, Pfizer defended its vaccine, stating it has saved countless lives and that their claims were scientifically accurate. "The company believes the state’s case has no merit and will respond to the suit in due course," Pfizer said. "We are deeply committed to patient safety and the effectiveness of our treatments and vaccines."

Kansas is the first state to file such a lawsuit, but Kobach indicated that five other states, including Idaho, will be joining the effort. The lawsuit is filed in Thomas County, chosen for its lighter judicial workload.

When asked if he had received the Pfizer vaccine, Kobach declined to answer, stating, "I think whether I’ve received the vaccination is irrelevant to the lawsuit; it’s about the statements made to the people of Kansas."

This lawsuit follows a similar case in 2023, when Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Pfizer for allegedly misrepresenting the vaccine's effectiveness and censoring public discussion about it, also under the state's Consumer Protection Act.